Get Into Gear And Volunteer As A Driver

Published on: 16 Jul, 2015
Updated on: 16 Jul, 2015

Volunteer drivers are being sought by Sight for Surrey to help transport people with visual impairment to a weekly class in Guildford.

The role is to support clients in their learning of communications skills.

The weekly classes runs during term time on Mondays between 9.45am and 11.45am, and drivers are required to collect people from their homes, take them to the local class and take them back home again afterwards. Drivers can also help out in the classes.

Volunteers need to be a car owner with a clean driving licence, insurance that recognises that you will be carrying a passenger as a volunteer, safe driving skills, be punctual, be flexible and reliable, have good interpersonal skills, be friendly, helpful and understanding, have good communication and listening skills, be patient and have empathy with people with visual impairment and occasionally combined sight and hearing loss.

A regular commitment for this service will be for 30 sessions per year of two hours per session during school term time.

You will have initial training of one day to prepare for the role and learn about Sight for Surrey and its policies, awareness of visual impairment and Sighted Guide Techniques together with basic training on adaptive software for visually impaired people. Additional specialist training courses may be offered through the year.

A volunteer can claim for travel expenses or mileage (40 pence a mile) for training and if using your car to transport service users to the group from your home to class and return.

There are also opportunities for class assistant/driver roles in some areas.

To apply and for more details contact volunteer recruitment co-ordinator Sue Howson for an informal chat on 01372 37701 or email showson@sightforsurrey.org.uk

In order to take on the role you would need to have an enhanced police check via the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Sight for Surrey would apply for this on your behalf at no cost to yourself.

You will also be required to complete a short registration form and provide details of two people who would be prepared to write a reference for you.